'Hours left to freedom': Outgoing CJP Isa reflects on career's watershed moments

• Humbled by praise, CJP Isa says "I learned the most from lawyers". 
• Isa says his wife played major role in his services for Balochistan. 
• "It is our responsibility to serve justice," says outgoing top judge.  

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Outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, who is retiring today (Friday), reflected on his 42-year-long judicial career's life-changing moments while addressing a full-court reference at the Supreme Court, organised to honour him and his services.

While quipping that "hours are left to freedom", CJP Isa, in his emotional farewell speech, described his appointment as chief justice of Balochistan as a watershed moment in his career.

"I accepted the position at a time when there was no judge in Balochistan," the outgoing chief justice said, with his wife Sarina Isa, other family members, and Supreme Court judges present in the audience at the farewell reference.

Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan, senior lawyer Farooq H Naek and Justice Yahya Afridi — who is set to replace CJP Isa after he relinquishes the charge — attended the session and praised the outgoing justice in their opening remarks before his address.

CJP Isa began by thanking everyone who attended the event, including CJP-designate Justice Afridi, and those who didn’t.

Accepting all the praise and appreciation from the participants of the session, the top judge said that it was fortunate that his wife was present during the reference as she would have never believed that people lauded him.

Shedding light on his life and career, CJP Isa said his mother advised him to complete his degree first before doing anything else.

"I was married right after I completed my studies. My married life and career are both 42 years long," he said.

CJP Isa further stated that his father was the first barrister in Balochistan. He said that his wife, Sarina, had a major role in his services in Balochistan but it was her wish not to highlight her name.

Recalling when he took up the post of Balochistan chief justice, the top judge said he was writing for an English newspaper when he was summoned by the then-chief justice of Pakistan, Justice (retd) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

"I thought the chief justice was summoning to reprimand me but he said 'there is no chief justice in Balochistan so you should become the Balochistan CJ'," he said.

"Becoming the Balochistan chief justice was a life-changing moment," he added.

He said he was the only judge in Balochistan High Court so he learned from the lawyers and revived a non-functional court in Balochisntan.

"I haven't learned from anyone as much as I learned from the lawyers," he added.

Highlighting the role of women, CJP Isa said that the men should be scared as the women have left them behind.

"Men should improve their performance or else the women will take over every seat," he said in a light-hearted manner.

Speaking about the importance of judges and lawyers, the outgoing top judge also read a letter he received from a woman, who termed one of his past judgments a "shield of protection" for her and her children.

"It is our responsibility to serve justice," CJP Isa said, adding that he might have made "wrong decisions but while making judgments, we follow the law and documents" which favour one party and goes against the other.

"However, only Allah knows what is the truth," he added.

In his address on the occasion, the chief justice-designate, Justice Afridi lavished praise on his to-be predecessor, saying that he found CJP Isa to be "one of the best human beings" and got to learn a lot from him.

“Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa will be missed in the Supreme Court. We have a rush of feelings while saying goodbye to the chief justice,” said Justice Afridi.

He said CJP Isa was a kind-hearted person, adding that he disagreed with CJP Isa multiple times during his career but the latter always listened to his stance "with an open heart". 

"Speak with a smile, and you will become familiar with CJP Isa's courteous responses, or provoke CJP Isa and you won't be able to match his anger," Justice Afridi said.

"Only God can help you when CJP Isa is angry. I also faced his ire several times and it surely wasn't a pleasant experience", he said in a light-hearted manner, prompting CJP Isa to respond with a laughter. 

The upcoming top judge also paid tribute to the chief justice’s family a tribute.

He said it was necessary for the nation to ensure the devolution of powers and supremacy of law. He also drew attention towards the district judiciary in remote areas, saying that the first priority as would be the district judiciary of the far-flung areas.

When the top judge retires today, Justice Afridi will succeed him and take the oath of the office of CJP in a ceremony slated to be held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. President Asif Ali Zardari will administer the oath to the CJP-designate.

Justice Afridi has been appointed the 30th chief justice of the country, who will serve for a fixed three-year term starting tomorrow (October 26), according to a statement from the Aiwan-e-Sadr released on Wednesday.

The CJP-designate is the first to be appointed following new rules for selecting a chief justice, introduced through the 26th Constitutional Amendment passed by the government last week.

The ruling coalition successfully pushed through the highly contentious judicial reforms through the Parliament via a two-thirds majority with 225 and 65 votes in the lower and upper house, respectively.

The constitutional tweaks were also opposed by the PTI, which has pledged to revoke the legislation whenever it returned to power in the Centre, terming it an attack on the “independence” of judiciary.

The party has also announced rejected the nomination of Justice Afridi as the next CJP, vowing to launch a protest movement against the Special Parliamentary Committee’s decision.